How Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Can Treat Amputation Pain

Whether you’re a veteran who’s an amputee or you’ve lost a limb due to diabetes or an accident, you likely have phantom limb pain; from 60% to 80% of amputees experience this type of pain. It can be acute and debilitating; your quality of life can plummet.

Our expert board-certified pain management physicians with Apollo Pain Management treat our patients with amputation pain with compassionate care through a technique called peripheral nerve stimulation, or PNS. Whether you have severe post-surgery amputee pain or chronic pain from the surgery, we can help bring your life back into balance. 

What are peripheral nerves?

Your peripheral nerves move messages to and from your brain and spinal cord to all parts of your body. Your sensory peripheral nerves allow you to feel touch and sensations like tingling or pain. When your peripheral nerves are damaged from an amputation, they can cause severe pain. 

What is peripheral nerve stimulation? 

Peripheral nerve stimulation uses electricity to change the pain signals your damaged nerves are sending to your brain. Your brain no longer interprets the signals as pain. PNS is an outpatient procedure. 

What happens during peripheral nerve stimulation? 

Peripheral nerve stimulation uses electricity to change the signals your damaged nerves are sending to your brain. You’ll first undergo a trial to see if PNS is going to help relieve your pain. 

Our staff cleanses the target area, and you receive a local anesthetic. Your physician places a thin wire that serves as an electrode alongside the offending peripheral nerve. The wire is connected to a small battery pack just under your skin. 

When the device is turned on, the electrode sends out rapid pulses; these feel like mild tingling sensations that replace the feeling of pain. 

You’ll likely test the system for a week to see if it’s going to provide the help you need. You can adjust the amount of stimulation from the electrode and can turn the system on and off. If it helps you, we insert a permanent electrode and battery. 

The procedure takes an hour or two. You’ll need someone to drive you home afterward. You should take it easy for 24 hours. 

How does peripheral nerve stimulation change my pain?

It might seem like magic, but the electrical energy in the pulses stops the nerve from carrying pain signals to your brain. The electricity changes the way the nerve functions. The technical term for the process is called neuromodulation. PNS was invented in the 1960s and has been in use since 2012 to treat nerve pain. 

Benefits of PNS 

PNS can change your life. It can significantly reduce your pain, enabling you to enjoy life again. You’ll be able to participate in rehabilitation activities after amputation that help prepare you to live a full life. 

Call Apollo Pain Management today or request an appointment through our online portal. We have offices in Sun City Center and Bradenton, Florida. Modern medicine can help alleviate acute and chronic pain.